Ventura at Turtle Creek — Local services in Rockledge

**UPDATE: The issue was resolved, but upkeep on the property continues to decline

THE PETITION: I have been asked to write a review multiple times by First Communities, and so I am.

MOVE IN: I moved in a little under a year ago. The complex is beautiful. It is fairly new, and is kept up fairly well. I loved that it was built in 2019. The folks were friendly and helpful. In the first few months I lived there, the maintenance guys were prompt and helpful. Hats off to them; they are responsive and do a great job with the maintenance request forms.

CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT: Shortly after I moved in, Ventura was undergoing a change in management. The current management was left with very little to go off of since the previous management company took many pertinent things with them, one being the parking assignments - this later led to an audit and reassigning parking spots. I think the office staff handled it fair, but it was definitely not an easy transition.

BIGGEST PROBLEM: There is a huge disconnect with doing what they say they are going to do with: 1) replying to emails or phone calls, 2) being in the office when they say they are, 3)communication or feedback.

THE CHALLENGE: In any professional job, if a problem arises, it usually discussed between parties, viable options considered, and then some sort of resolution. Feedback allows for both parties to know that the problem has been resolved, or further data needs to be obtained before moving forward. This has been an arduous endeavor with First Communities. The office staff either does not have that authority, knowledge, or connection with the Corporate office in Atlanta. I am all about finding a resolution, even if it is going over your head to find it. Often, there is no resolution, just frustration and lots, and lots of my time following up, which could be resolved with communication and feedback.

UNRESOLVED ISSUE: I have an unresolved issue with management regarding issuing me a credit for excessive payment of water. (At Ventura, the management company pays the whole complexes water bill, then doles out the individual payments.) Within three months of moving in - mind you, my first month was prorated - my water bill went from around $35 to $150. I attributed the the second month to having been there a full month, and having teenage children. When I saw the $150, I contacted the office. (Having just moved in to apartments built in 2019, I did not think the toilet flush valve and refill valve would be malfunctioning.) An interim manager was in, made a note on my account, and asked management to review over the next few months to make sure I was indeed not using that much water, and then a credit made. That was in December of 2020.

Since then, recently, Jennifer graciously reached out to Corporate via email three weeks ago. I have not heard anything back even though a request was made to follow-up either from Corporate or our local management office.

SLIPPING: Since my move in, they have raised the pest control, valet trash, and other minors costs, but the upkeep of the buildings is starting to show. Public areas within each of the building facilities are dirty and not swept, with cobwebs, mold and dirt accumulating. This is disappointing. Furthermore, I have pressed "8" to leave an emergency with the machine, and no one ever picks up. The music just cycles through, over and over, and over again.

DISCLAIMER: I, personally have nothing against this facility. I love my home. I love my view. I love my neighbors. The residents are wonderful. The maintenance guys are great. Jennifer, the office manager, is nice and striving to do her best with what she has been given. We all have areas of improvement. However, I cannot write a glowing review to a community that falls short in the area of availability, communication and feedback.

I will keep you posted as to whether I hear back from either or both the Office, or Corporate. It should be interesting to see if they truly want to resolve issues, as they did ask me to write a review, not...

I have lived at these apartments for almost 4 years now and I genuinely recommend them. I've read some other reviews for reference, and just want to note that my experience was not the same as those leaving negative reviews. I've had a couple of experiences where I received stellar service and felt like I should make the staff cookies, but since I didn't make cookies... I'm writing this review instead. Management and Maintenance were always super friendly, helpful, and responsive. Management may not get back to me with a question immediately, but that is not outside of my expectations, they are busy, but they do get back to me! I only once had to submit a high-priority maintenance ticket when my A/C broke, and Maintenance was at my apartment within the hour. I had a couple other minor maintenance issues (not high-priority), but they were always addressed timely, and they corrected any issue. I had one experience of note where I thought I was going to be moving, and submitted an Intent to Vacate form, but my plans to move fell through, and without going into details I'll just say that Management went above and beyond to help me be able to stay in my apartment. Also want to point out that in this case, they were VERY quick to help, unlike times I reached out with minor questions, as I'd mentioned above that they don't always get back right away. I noticed there were reviews posted from a few years ago with complaints about the towing, but to my knowledge the towing issue no longer applies. I believe they did away with towing altogether (The towing guy used to live next door to me). The apartment was brand new when I moved in, in 2019, so everything is up-to-date and really nice. There are walk-in closets in both bedrooms, full-sized washer and dryer (realized after almost moving that this is hard to find around here!), a huge pantry with mirrors on the doors that make the space feel roomier, high ceilings, granite counters, lots of windows, and beautiful views. I read reviews with complaints about the storage space, but I did not find that to be an issue. I moved my fridge over a scooch and was able to fit a broom and step ladder between the fridge and wall. I moved my washer over a scooch and was able to fit my vacuum between the water heater and the washer. If you're renting a one-bedroom, I could see how storage could be more of an issue. The closet in the master of the two-bedroom is huge, and could fit a twin-sized mattress! My only real complaints are more in-line with apartment living in general. I lived on the second floor, and at one point both my upstairs and downstairs neighbors had dogs that would bark at all hours... and the upstairs dog doing zoomies was obnoxiously loud. I was not crazy about the assigned parking, but I do feel like I lucked out with a good parking spot. There aren't a lot of parking spots for visitors. For receiving Amazon packages, there are lockers by the leasing office, and there is not assigned Amazon pickup parking like there is with the mailboxes down the way. If you order anything heavy from Amazon, you have to cross your fingers that they'll deliver it to your door instead of the lockers. Overall this was a great place to live. It's in a nice area, affordable for the area, super friendly staff, and in walking distance to Publix and...

I moved into Ventura at Turtle Creek because it appeared to be an affordable option during a time when I had limited choices. On paper, it looked decent: modest rent, a quiet neighborhood, and an option to move in without a traditional security deposit thanks to a third-party bond service.

But here's the honest truth: my experience here was exhausting and frustrating, and now that I’ve moved out, it's become financially damaging too.

I paid over $2,400 in total to "The Guarantors" in place of a security deposit, under the belief—both written and verbally confirmed by staff—that this payment would replace a traditional deposit. That was the understanding shared with me at the time of move-in. Now, months after moving out, I’m being billed nearly $1,724 for alleged damages—damages I thoroughly disputed with photographic evidence. Instead of properly addressing the dispute, the property management bypassed me and filed a claim directly with The Guarantors, who then came after me for the full amount. Not only was this done without a clear explanation or breakdown of charges in good faith, but it felt like a double-dip setup from the very beginning.

I’ve tried to handle everything responsibly—providing rebuttals, offering payment plans, and requesting transparency—and yet I’m left with threats and pressure that feel like pure financial bullying. This entire situation has caused nothing but anxiety and confusion.

As for the property itself? Here’s the breakdown:

✅ Pros

Quiet neighbors; everyone generally kept to themselves and was respectful

A decent dog park that was long and gated

Maintenance staff were professional, timely, and helpful

Trash compactor worked well

App for submitting tickets was easy to use

Gym was clean and serviceable

Amazon locker was convenient (sometimes)

❌ Cons

Water pressure was awful throughout the unit, with no resolution ever provided

The “included” Spectrum internet/TV package ($99/month) is outdated and overpriced. The modem is Wi-Fi 4—we’re in the era of Wi-Fi 6/7 now

Spectrum had to replace my modem multiple times due to constant failures

Mailboxes and Amazon locker were far from most units

TVs in the gym didn’t work, and there’s no cell reception in there

They built and pushed carports no one asked for. $65+/mo for parking spots no one ever used. They weren’t shaded properly and were clearly a cash grab

Originally charged us for reserved parking until they repaved the lot and removed the markings—without ever clarifying if those fees were being removed or still charged

Guarantors and Ventura both failed to operate in good faith, and residents are left with little to no recourse

This isn’t just buyer’s remorse. This is about transparency, trust, and being treated fairly. When you spend thousands to live somewhere and are promised one thing but handed another, that’s not just bad management—it’s systemic exploitation.

This is an ongoing situation, and I will update this review with the final outcome. But for now, I strongly urge anyone considering moving here to read every line of your lease, be cautious about the bond service, and understand that once you're out, your money...